BRIEFLY

Aerospace

Judge Throws Out Whistle-Blower Case: The suit, brought against Hughes Aircraft Co. by former employee Linda Lujan, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge James M. Ideman in Los Angeles because Lujan discussed the case with a Los Angeles Times reporter while it was under seal and not yet available to Hughes. Ideman said Lujan's case, which was the subject of two Times articles in early 1992, violated the False Claims Act under which whistle-blower suits are filed. Lujan had alleged that Hughes improperly shifted charges on its radar systems program for the B-2 bomber.